Because the compact sports activities sedan class shrinks, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI nonetheless stands proud, full with an non-compulsory handbook transmission to go together with its responsive 228-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It strikes into 2025 with a wholesome refresh for the sedan’s single trim, known as Autobahn, which Volkswagen guarantees will enhance refinement and know-how. Worth can also be excessive on the precedence checklist, and the Jetta GLI does, certainly, pack numerous options with its nimble, sporty perspective and skill.
We made our approach out to one in every of California’s hottest driving areas, primarily identified for the Angeles Crest freeway, with Volkswagen to take the 2025 Jetta GLI for a day spin out into the twisting roads. The refreshed mannequin is actually fairly, but it surely’s overshadowed by the hatchback Golf GTI with its additional horsepower and related entry value. We arrived on the query: Is the Jetta GLI nonetheless related as we head in the direction of 2025?
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Exterior: Acquainted And Sharp
The Jetta might simply be mistaken for every other compact sedan from a distance, however its design from nearer up is distinctive. The 2025 refresh consists of new bumpers, revised headlights, and a brand new gentle bar connecting the taillights collectively by way of the trunk lid. There’s additionally a brand new number of wheels, and the general impact is sharp and inoffensive. The GLI has the benefit over different fashions of sitting decrease to the ground on sport suspension.
The cut up in opinion right here can be between individuals who adore it and people who aren’t offended by it. And, contemplating how automotive styling has been leaping round recently, it is one thing we are able to respect. The Jetta GLI continues to be going to look good in 5 or ten years by merely not courting itself too shortly.
New for 2025, the Jetta GLI gives:
- Two new exterior colours: Monterey Blye Pearl and Monument Gray
- New 18-inh alloy wheels
- New non-compulsory black wheel bundle
An acoustically optimized panoramic glass tilt/slide sunroof is commonplace on the GLI. Nonetheless, the shade materials contained in the automotive for when you don’t need the additional gentle is reasonable and skinny. Because of this, when the solar is out and direct, it’s also direct warmth on the driving force and passenger’s head – one thing price noting.
Inside: Working Properly With What You Have
The less-than-ideal shade for the sunroof is not the primary clue that the Jetta GLI is constructed to a value level. The plastics aren’t Volkswagen’s greatest, and the entrance seats aren’t probably the most supportive, however we have to take a look at the automotive as an entire and with its worth proposition in thoughts.
The upside is that it is extra engaging inside than a few of Volkswagen’s dearer SUVs – the brand new sprint design is fluid and fairly and is a part of an total exacting-yet-comfortable really feel that features padded leatherette door inserts, an actual leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shifter knob (we drove the handbook transmission model), chrome steel pedal caps, and a black headliner. Twin-zone local weather management is commonplace throughout the lineup, and we discovered the air-con to be sturdy through the noon Californian summer time warmth.
The touch-sensitive temperature controls have been a difficulty earlier than, however we discovered them to be responsive, and the best way they’re framed makes them simple to seek out with out having to take consideration from the highway. A excessive level for us each time we drive a Jetta is the trunk area. Its 14.1 cubic ft is good and boxy, making all of it usable. It is a sedan that works as nicely for household obligation because it does for the skilled.
Infotainment: Let Down At The Last Hurdle
The Jetta GLI lands with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as commonplace and two USB-C ports together with a 45-watt wi-fi charger. In actual fact, the infotainment measures good when it comes to ease of use, responsiveness, and a not-too-small eight-inch touchscreen show. The infotainment then positive aspects factors from the wonderful and configurable Volkswagen Digital Cockpit system for the driving force. The show is daring, clear, and will be as granular as you need with info, or use the entire display screen to indicate the navigation.
Sadly, we weren’t too impressed with the BeatsAudio system, regardless of the spectacular numbers. It boasts 12 channels, a 400-watt amplifier, digital sign processing, and 9 audio system, together with a subwoofer. Nonetheless, the bass will not be managed nicely, whereas the highs are harsh. No method of tweaking the settings might rid the bass of its extreme hole sound on the edges with the quantity set to get pleasure from ranges – more likely to do with its placement and surrounding supplies. This feels just a little nit-picky, and admittedly, this author is an audiophile who takes sound programs very significantly.
Below The Hood: Enjoyable
Not like the sound system, the engine does not boast large numbers, and in contrast to the sound system, the engine does ship. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque to the entrance wheels with sufficient vigor to chirp the wheels by first, second, and third gear on scorching concrete. This goes for the handbook transmission, and vigor is the right phrase – it isn’t a powerhouse, however the engine desires to work, and the facility is constant.
The handbook transmission is a six-speed that may be just a little gentle for the hardcore fanatic, however we had numerous enjoyable operating up and down the gears with out having to study any nuances. There’s not lots happening with exhaust sound, however there’s sufficient grit and growl to suggestions when your foot is in it.
On The Highway: The place the Jetta GLI Reveals Its Actual Worth
The fantastic thing about the Jetta GI is in the way it balances between its around-town and freeway manners with being straight-up enjoyable to drive on a again highway. It is comfy, the trip is nice, it is roomy sufficient for 4 adults, and the trunk is beneficiant – but it surely’s additionally nimble with nice physique management when roads get tight. The engine desires to assist with its responsiveness and consistency. The mix is superb if you don’t need or want the seriousness of the much more performance-focused Golf GTI, Civic Si, or Hyundai’s Elantra N, which all really feel extra pressing to drive. The Jetta GLI is extra playful than that little checklist, though it will not sustain by corners with any of them.
Setting again onto the highways, freeway, after which into the town, the handbook is simple to drive easily, and the Jetta GLI goes again to its pleasant-to-drive self with out having to press any buttons.
Conclusion: Is The Jetta GLI Nonetheless Related?
The straightforward reply is sure, it’s. It is a sporty, reasonably priced automotive filled with premium options that should not get you into hassle too simply. It is a worth proposition on wheels in that it is enjoyable to drive, has a cushty trip, and features a plethora of normal options and tech functionality; it’s going to fulfill those that need amount over total high quality and with an enormous dose of front-wheel-drive enjoyable.
Nonetheless, although they’re constructed to value, these seats needs to be extra comfy, and the shade of the sunroof is a sticking level for us. As is the BeatsAudio system, which we discovered to be a letdown and the definition of amount over high quality. We would favor a traditional manufacturing unit system that sounds fantastic and that the monetary financial savings be diverted to higher seats and an precise shade for the sunroof.
When you’re , although, you need to take a look at drive a Jetta GLI and take note of the seats, sunroof, and stereo to ensure you can stay with them – in spite of everything, totally different physique varieties like totally different seats, you might stay someplace that does not have relentlessly sunny days for what looks like half the 12 months, and music high quality is not excessive in your precedence checklist.
If these aren’t deal-breakers, then the 2025 Jetta GLI is a cushty, wise, but playfully entertaining sporty little automotive – with, in our opinion, a greater trip high quality than the usual Jetta from its suspension. That is precisely what a Jetta GLI needs to be, and it fills what would in any other case be a niche out there extraordinarily nicely.